Selective demethylation of saturated hydrocarbons



v June 1&4,` 1947. v. HAENSEL ETAL 2,422,674

-SE`LCTIVE DEMETHY'LATXON VO1v SATURATED HYDROCARBONS Filed oct'. 51, 1944 A 5 sheets-sheet 2 F ,2, y x

CaQZySfvI/UeIfa (are of' June 24, 1947. v. HAx-:NSEL ETAL SELECTIVE DEMETHYLATION OF STURATED HYDROCAHBONS 1944 5v shams-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 3l,

Effc of (afags 2v2/verz: afa r-e V. HAENSEL EVAL June 274, 1,947. y

Filed oct. s1, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 o a m w, m @m0 5..., am@ M fen/m 5 5 M JKM 5 M c 5 z gm M M. ,b

Patented `une 24, 1,947 I SELECTIVE DEME'rnYLA'rIoN oF SATURATED mmnooABnoNs VladimirrHaensel, Clarendon Hills, `and Vladimir N. IpatieiL Chicago, Ill., assignors to Universal Oil Products Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Appusuon october 31, 1944', serai No. 561,186

14 claims. `(o1. 26o-osos) This application is a continuation-in-part lof our copending applications: Serial Number 475,004, filed February 6, 1943; Serial Numbers 481,266 and 481,270, led March 31, 1943; and Serial Number 507,890, filed October 27, 1943.

This invention relates to the treatment with' hydrogen-in the presence of a hydrogenating catalyst of a. hydrocarbon to produce therefromV a hydrocarbon containing at least l carbon atom less than those present in the hydrocarbon charged to the process. More specifically, our inventionis concerned with a catalyticprocess for treating with hydrogen a hydrocarbon containing more than V4 carbon atoms, including an alkylr group of at least 2 carbon atoms, said process being carried out at closely correlated conditions of temperature, pressureand charging rateso that the principal reaction of the process is the replacement with hydrogen and the scission of methyl'groups. in the forml of methane, toA the exclusion of alkyl groups of more than 1 'carbon atom, to decrease the number of carbon atoms of said hydrocarbon by at least 1 carbon atom.

An object of this invertion is thedemethyla-v tiongoi' a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of a parailln, an alkyl aromatic having an alkyl group containing at least 2 carbon atoms,

anda saturated alkyl hydroaromatic having -an alkylfgroup'containing at leastv 2 carbon, atoms to produce ytherefrom a hydrocarbon of lower molecular Weight.

Another, object oithis invention` is thel devi,

methylation of a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon containing more than 4 carbon atoms per molecule to produce therefrom a parailinic hydrocarbon of lower molecular weight.

A further object of this invention is the production of a. Yparaiflnic hydrocarbon of lower molecular weight by the catalytic demethylation of a paramnichydrocarbon containing more than 4 carbon atoms per molecule.

Another further object ot this invention is the v treatment of a cyclic hydrocarbon having more than 7 carbon atoms kpermolecule comprising a ring of 6 carbon atoms and an alkyl side chain of 2 at least 2 carbon atoms to decrease the number of carbon atoms in said alkyl side chain oi said hydrocarbon-by at least one carbon atom by removing only one methylgroup or several methyl .5 groups as methane from `said alkyl side chain while retaining a portion of said side chain in chemical combination with said ring. Y

A still further object of this invention is the treatment i an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon havn. ing analkyl side chain of atleast 2 carbon atoms to decrease the number of carbonatoms in saidl alkyl side chain by at least one carbon atom by removing .only one methyl group or several methyl groups as .methane from -said alkyl Vside chain while retaining ka portion of said Aside chain in chemical combination .with `Athe aromatic ring.,

Another object ro1! this invention is the treatment ot a saturated alkyl hydroaromatic hydrocarbon-'having an alkyl group containing at least 2 carbon .atoms to decrease the number of carbon atoms in said lalkyl group by at least one carbon atom by removing .only one methyl group or yseveral Vmethyl groups as methanefrom saidalkyl group' While retaining a portion of saidalkyl group in chemical 'combination with the hydroaromatic ring.

v-One specific embodiment of the present invention comprises a process of reacting hydrogen witha hydrocarbon containing more than 4 cararbon atoms, in thepresence of a. demethylatng catalyst at a temperature which is directly proportional to the logarithm of the pressure so. as to split from said hydrocarbon'only one methyl.

group or several methyl groups `and form a hydrocarbon of lower Amolecular weight.

. A further embodiment of the present invention comprisesJv a process oi' reacting hydrogen with a paraiiiicrhydrocarbon containing more-'.

than 4 carbon atomsln the presence of acatalyst of the iron group at`a temperature which is directly proportlonalto the logarithm of the pres- A sure so as to split from said hydrocarbon only one methyl group or several methyl groups and form 45 a hydrocarbon of lower molecular Weight.

bon' atoms, including an alkyl group of at least 2 Y have been utilized to produce gasoline 'from higher boiling oils in the presence of various hydrogenating catalysts. Such methods may be regarded as involving essentially the cracking of the higher boiling oils accompanied by hydrogenation ofthe products of lower molecular weight to form substantially saturated hydrocarbons boiling within the range of gasoline. The present process dilers from the destructive hydrogenation treatments of the prior art, particularly in that it specically involves the demethylation of a, hydrocarbon charging stock under definite and specific conditions of operation necessary to effect a high degree of selective demethylation with substantially no accompanying undesired cracking reactions. The present process produces hydrocarbons of lower molecular weights and higher antiknock values than the hydrocarbons treated. Y

By the term selective demethylation" We mean the herein-described reaction of a hydrocarbon with hydrogen in the rpresence of a. catalyst whereby certain methyl groups are removed in preference to other groups from a hydrocarbon being subjected to said treatment. For example, the paraiiinic hydrocarbon, 2,2,3-trimethylpentane, which has the formula:

has 5 methyl groups, 3 of which groups are combined with the quaternary carbon atom, l is dimethylpentane and methane would be formed;

whereas the similar splitting of the methyl group from the tertiary carbon atom would result in the formation of 2,2-dimethylpentane and methane. If the fifth methyl group, namely, that which is a part of the ethyl group of the molecule, is removed therefrom, the resultant Vreaction mixture would contain triptane and methane. According'ly, if all of the bonds between the diierent carbon atoms of 2,2,3-trimethylpentane are of equal strength, the probability of forming a dimethylpentane is 4 times that of forming triptane. However, we have found experimental evidence that the bond between the quaternary'and the tertiary carbon atoms are stronger than is the bond between the triptyl group and the terminal methyl group of 2,2,3-trimethylpentane. The experiments gave relatively high yields of triptane but a relatively small yield of dirnethylpentanes. We have found that different hydrocarbons which do not contain' quaternary carbon atoms Y may also be demethylated selectively. Thus iso- Similarly the demethylationY that a methyl group bound to a tertiary carbon atom is less easy to remove, and that a methyl group combined chemically with a quaternaryA Vcarbon atom is the most dimcult type of methyl group to split off in the form of methane. In other words, the relative stabilities to demethylation of the different C-CHs bonds of a hydrocarbon are in the descending order of quaternary, tertiary, and secondary groupings which are illustrated by the followingI formulas:

R, n H r11-d op, arcta-CH5 Rl-rJ-cnl i. t. i

Quaternary Tertiary Secondary in which R1 represents an alkyl group of atleast 2 carbon atoms and R2 and R3 represent methyl groups.

Hydrocarbons which are demethylated by the f process of this invention have more than 4 carbon alkyl hydroaromatics having alkyl groups containing at least 2 carbon atoms. hydrocarbons include both normal and branched chain parafns. Alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons having side chains of at least 2 carbon atoms lnclude mono-ethylbenzene, monopropyl and monoisopropylbenzene, and more highly alkylated mono-alkylbenzenes as well as dialkyl and polyalkyl benzenes, each having an alkyl containing 2 or more carbon atoms. The saturated hydroaromatic hydrocarbons which are also demethylated by the process of our invention Iinclude particularly Vethylcyclohexane and other alkyl cyclohexanes of higher molecular weight contain.-

ing at least one alkyl group of 2v or more carbon atoms.

The parafnic hydrocarbons treated bythe process of this invention comprise the normally `liquid parans and particularly those containing *at least 6 carbon atoms per molecule. The process ylated into triptane, as is also true with certain l highly branched nonanes, decanes, and other hydroocarbons contaiing'a triptyl group. By a triptyl group we meanan alkyl group containing a quaternary carbon atom adjacent to a tertiary carbon atom. Thus, a Ytriptyl group contains viclnal tertiary and quaternary carbon atoms.

The chain structures of paraiflnic hydrocarbons containing a triptyl group and convertible into triptane by demethylation may be indicated by the following formula in which R1 to RB represent alkyl groups or hydrogen atoms, but with at least one of the R groups being an alkyl group.

Y Rz Ra H (11H, on, H fril-rtnl i +B. is t RB If the hydrocarbon represented by the above structural formula contains a total of n carbon atoms in the groups R1 to R5, inclusive, the de- The paraiiinicV methylation.

, wam' v methylation to triptane the equation: Y

mayY be represented by CHaH,V .Y

Demethylation of an alkylfaromatic having an alkyl'group of at least 2 lcarbon atoms is illustrated by the following equations for isopropyl- Alsofdemethylation of asaturated hydroaromatie hydrocarbon having anaikyi group (of 'at methylated hydrocarbons containing. at least 4 carbon atoms per molecule.

Also we prepared cobalt -catalystsby essentially Athe same series of steps as were used in producing nickel-diatomaceous earth catalyst composites. Diatomaceousearthand cobalt nitrate y so-,proportioned as to lgive essentially the same ratioof cobalt to silicafas of nickel tosilica in v the above-described catalyst, werefmixed with watervand then treated with an excess of a hot saturated solutionk of sodium carbonate. The

mixture of cobalt nitrate solution and diatomacenous earth suspended Vtherein was agitated vigorously while the sodium carbonate solution was added thereto to form a precipitate which was removed `by ltration and was then washed, dried,

and reduced to give an active cobalt-'liatomaceous earth catalyst, utilizable v`in the form of least 2 carbonfatoms. is illustrated-,by the following equations showing the demethylation ottertiary-butyl-, propyl, and ethyl-cyclohexanesl C6H11'C(CH3) 3-l-H2 C6H11CH(CH3) z-I-CI-It Demethylating catalysts which are preferred v for the present process contain metals of the iron group or their oxides. These catalysts,y and particularly those containing the metals, nickel and cobalt, are also 1.active hydrogenatingV catalysts.

metals or metal oxides having hydrogenating activities may be used as such but. preferably they are supported by a carrier, such as alumina, silica, diatomaceous earth, crushed porcelain, or some other refractory material which: has substantially no adverse innuence uponr the Yde- A highly active nickel catalyst vwhich we used in the present process contained approximately 66%.y bylweight of total nickel, 30% of dir atoina- 4ceous earth, and 4% of oxygen, the latter present in nickel oxide. This'catalyst wasA made by the general steps of suspending diatomaceous earth,

also known as kieselguhr, in a dilute aqueous solutionv of nickel sulfate and then gradually adding thereto an excess of a hot saturated solutionA of sodium carbonate. The mixture of nickel sulfate solution4 and diatomaceous earth wasY agitated vigorously while the sodium carbonate solution was introduced thereto to form a 'precipitate which was removed'by filtration, and was then gwashedydriedheated, and reduceduvith hydrogen.

The resultant nickel-diatomaceous earth il'cat-1 yalystris vemployed in powder form whenv dej powder ror pelletsfin essentially` the same manger asVv the nickel-diat'omaceous earth catalyst.

Theprocess of this invention is carried out )by Acontacting hydrogen and a hydrocarbon with a 'demethylating catalyst at carefully correlated conditions of temperature and pressure. The

The different demethylation catalysts comprisingsotemperaturesgenerally employed are from about 350. F. to Iabout 750 F. Vand the operating pressures are preferably from about 75 to about 3000 pounds per square inch althoughthe process may be operated at pressures below 75 pounds per square inch. In the presence of a catalyst of the iron group our demethylation processis carried out preferablyy at a temperature of from about 450 to about 650 F. r f

Accurate control of the demethylation tem- Ype'rature is sometimes difficult because Vof the exothermic nature of the reaction. Calculations show thatl when one methyl group is removed as r methane from onev gram moleof hydrocarbon,

methylation is eilected in batchtypetreatment were carried out at-a temperature of from about' 700 F. to about 1200 F. We found that it was preferable to reduceA a nickel-containing-catalyst at ra temperature of from about 800 to about 11009 F. in order to obtain a demethylating catalyst of` such activity that e demethylation reaction could be controlledreadiiy to produce deapproximately 12,500`calories of heat are evolved.

Since in the hydrogenation of an olefin, the evo-1 lution of about 16,900 calories accompanies the l hydrogenationof one double bond per mole of hydrocarbon, it is evident that the removal of 'one methyl group per Amole causes the evolution of approximately '7,5% as much `heat rof reaction as does the hydrogenation of .a mono-olefin. However, if the demethylationreaction is permitted to proceedfurther until methane is the onlyv product, Vthe heat of reaction .becomes 12,500(n1) calories, where n is the number ofv rcarbon atomsin each molecule of the Vvoriginal hydrocarbon charged. Thus if an octane is demethylated completely to methane, the heat of reaction is approximately 87,500 calories per mole.

This heat ofV reaction is approximately 5.2 times the heat evolved upon hydrogenation of octenev tooctane. Therefore, ltfis apparent that if the catalyst used in demethylation, -for example, of octane, is oi such an active nature that excessive conversion or complete conversion to methane ftakes place readily, the catalyst will undergo a very rapidA and excessive vrise in temperature. As a result of such a high temperature, the catalyst will undergo a loss in demethylating activity.

. the dernethylation reaction can be controlled and However, if the rcatalyst is of a less active nature,

substantially stopped V4after only one or two methyl groups have been removed from the hydrocarbon charged to the process. In this case the heat of reaction is sufiicientlylow that it can be dissipated from the 'reactionzone fast enough so as to maintain a, desired catalyst temperature, and so that'relatively high conversions to lower molecular weight hydrocarbons can be attained. Also, weobserved that the manner inwhich maden the catalyst was prepared and reduced had an prior to use in our demethylation process. After' this treatment with hydrogen, the catalyst was of such activity that the demethylation reaction carried out in its presence could .be controlled readily at relatively high conversions per pass although weV prefer to operate so as to obtain from about to about 50% conversion per pass and'tol recycle unconverted chargingfvstock'.' If v .the catalyst was not given the pretreatment with r ll'drogen at about 800 to about 1100 F., its initial activity was often sohighthat the exothermic heat arising from demethyiationcaused an excessive temperature which not only had a tendency to spoil the activity of the catalyst, but .to cause momentary, excessive conversion of the charged hydrocarbon into methane and to generate more exothermic heat* of reaction. VHowever, when the activity of the catmyst was modifled by the mentioned pretreatment, the demethylation reaction could be controlled and could be substantially stopped after only one or two methyl groups had been removed from the hydrocarbon charged to the process. Under these circumstances the heat of reaction was sulciently low that it could be dissipated from the reaction zone rapidly enough to maintain a desiredcatalyst temperature so that relatively high conversions to lowervmolecular weight hydrocarbons could be attained andso that these rconversions could be maintained for relatively long periods of time.

Several nickel catalysts of the type herein described were reduced at 700, 800, 1000, 1100", and 1200* F., and then used in the demethylation of a trimethylpentane mixture at a pressure of 100 pounds per square inch and at an hourly liquid space velocity of from 0.5 to 0.8 to give 32 to 39% conversion per pass. In these runs the catalyst temperatures needed to obtain such conversions increased withan increase in the reduction temperature of the catalyst. Thus, a catalyst temperature of 425'.F. was used to effect 32% conversion of :trimethylpentane in the presence'. of the catalyst'reducedat 700 F. whiletemperal 46, 486? 49 f tures of 4 and 5 F respectively 'were y .trimethylpentane conversions of about 20, 30, and

'f 50% `in the presence of a nickel catalyst at the needed for 'similar conversions in the presence 'of the catalysts reduced at 800', 1000", and 1200 l `VOur demethylation process may be carriedout usingeither batch orcontinuous types of operation. In the continuousjtype of treatment, which we generally prefer, ahydrocarbon and a hydrogen-containing gasare'fpasse'd through a reactor containinga'lcatalyst of the type herein described and i the f reaction i products lare discharged continuously from"v ,the reactor at substantially the same rate` 'as that at which the reactants Aare charged thereto. The products ofthe demethylation treatment are fractionated by suitable means to separate the desired lower boiling hydrocarbons from the unconverted portion of the hydrocarbon material charged to theprocess,and said, unconverted material is recycled'to commingle` sary to closely coordinate or interrelate these op yeratingconditions.` That is, within the wider ranges of operating conditions mentioned above, there is a narrow andY specific range of catalyst temperature needed for each catalyst, pressure, and spacevelocity employed in order to obtain selective demethylation and particularly to produce high yields of desired demethylated hydrocarbons containing at least 4 carbon atoms per molecule.A It is' also necessary to coordinate the operating conditions with the activity of the catalyst. If the operating conditions and catalyst activity are not coordinated properly, demethylation will either not occur. or it will result in excessive formation of methane for a'short period of timeduring which the high heat ofthe reaction willcause an uncontrollable high temperaturewhich will spoil the catalyst. After a demethylation catalyst has been spoiled by an exi cessive temperaturejthe catalyst is of low activity and' therefore practically valueless for further demethylation use at the same temperature. However, this same catalyst can sometimes be utilized at higher demethylation temperatures.

When producing triptane by demethylating 2,2,3-trimethylpentane, it is necessary to correlate properly theV operating temperature, pressure, catalyst activity, and the partial pressure of hydrogen in the reaction mixture or no triptane will be produced. If the temperature is too low, the

2,2,3-tri'methylpentane will pass through the reatom by removingonly' methyl groups generally from the least substituted carbon atom in the longest chain of said hydrocarbon.

In our process we have observed that an increase in operating pressure and in hydrogen partial pressure mustbe accompanied by'an increase in catalyst temperature in order to maintain a given conversion of a trmethylp'entane mixture into heptanes and other demethylated -`hydroc'arbons, the latter` containing 4, 5, and 6 carbon atoms per molecule. Such relationships between operating temperature and pressure for respective Vaverage hourly liquid space velocities of 0.75, 2.0, and 1.6 are expressed by the three curves (which are straight lines) shown in Figure 1. Each of these lines was obtained by plotting Lthe catalyst temperature for theparticular conversion against the logarithm of the total gage pressure `in pounds per square inch. As indicated by Table 1 and by line I of Figure 1, the catalyst temperature necessary for about 50% conversion increased from 519 F. at a gage pressure of 100 pounds per square inch to 591 F. at 500 pounds pressure. Similarly, in other runs at 2.0 space velocity givingabout 30%V conversion,

the'catalyst temperature was 546" F. at 300 pounds and 591 F. at 800 pounds pressure. These results are shown by line 2 of Figure 1 `For a still smaller conversion of about 20% at a space vvelocity of 0.75 as shown by line 3 the catalyst temperature was 463 F. at 200 pounds pressure and 518 F..at 600 pounds pressure.

The catalyst temperatureneeded for demethylation, for example of a trimethylpentanemlxture in the presence kof a nickel catalyst, is'also directly proportlonalto the logarithm of the partial pressure of vhydrogen present inthe reaction mixture. Some of the results obtained as described above and included in Figure 1 have also been utilized in preparing Figurerr. in which lines I and 2 are similar to lines I andZ or' Figure 1A except that in Figure 2 the'lines rI and 2 indicate the variations of catalyst temperatures with the inlet partial pressuresy of hydrogen which are also included in Table 1 asa part of Example I. This krelationship of reaction temperature to pressure which we found to 'exist in our de- Y' methylation process is opposite to that observed previously in the hydrogenation iof olelins where an increase in hydrogenation pressure makes itA rpossible to use aV lower cata-lysttemperature to eiect a constant. percentage hydrogenation of the oleiins charged. k i Y In the presence of the;mentiorledniclrel 'cata-` lyst, the same relationship between catalyst-temperature and reaction pressure as given in Figure` 1 does not, hold at gage pressuresbelow-about '75 pounds per-, squareinch. However, the results. which we have obtained do indicate that in ordery to start the demethylationreaction at pressures below about 75 pounds per square inch, higher catalyst temperatures are needed wheny the reaction mixture being treated has a high partial pressureY of hydrogen. For higher conversions to demethylation products atthese relatively low' operating pressures, no rigid correlation of catalyst temperature and hydrogen partial pressure appears to exist. Y Although with no intention of unduly limiting the scope of our inventionfwe offer the following suggeslons as to Why, in order to produce a nearly constant yield of demethylation products, the catalyst'temperature may be varied over arelatively wide range of'pressures below about 75 pounds'per square inch. In the demethylation process it appears essential to substantially bal'- ance the extentsof adsorption of both hydrogen and hydrocarbon upon the catalyst. When either the hydrocarbon or the hydrogen is adsorbed to a preponderating excess over the other, the demethylation reaction cannot occur. At highr hydrogen partial pressure,we believethat most of thecatalyst surface is covered with adsorbed hydrogen and that only a small amount ofcatalyst surface is available for contact kwith the y hydrocarbon. Therefore, as the hydrogen partial pressure is increased, it is necessary to increase the'catalyst temperature' in order to desorb some of the hydrogen andl permit adsorption of some oi.' theV hydrocarbon. At lowhydrogen partial pressures, the hydrogen adsorption is naturally low and accordingly the demethylation reaction can start at a relatively low temperature. However, as the temperature is increased, in order to increase the rate of demethylation, the adsorp tion of hydrogen decreases simultaneously. Accordingly an increase in thefraterof reaction due to an increase inV temperature is oilset substantially by the decrease inthe amount of hydrogen adsorbed on the catalyst. Thus at; low pressures the effects of temperature and adsorption work againstv eachV other and the catalyst temperature needed to obtain substantial yields of y'demethylaf tion productscan be varied over a considerable range', Whereas at'higher pressures this cannot be done. p Y

Our correlations of operating temperature and l pressure (above about '75 pounds per square inch) with percentage conversion is illustrated further by the lines shown in Flgure. By reference to lines I and 2 of'Figure 3 and to the data given in Table 2, itis noted that in runs at 300 pounds gage pressure the catalyst temperature needed for a given conversion was about F. higher when using approximately 2.0 hourly liquid space velocity than when operating similarly at a space velocity of 1.0. Also, by comparing lines 2 and 3 of-Figure 3, it is noted that the operating temperature needed at 800 pounds pressure for a. given percentage conversion at 2.0 average space velocity was' about 45 F. higher than needed to give the same lconversion in similar runs at 300 poundsV pressure. Also line 4 shows the effect of catalyst temperature upon conversion at apressure of 500 pounds per square inch and at an hourly liquid spaced velocity of 4.0.

Also, we found thatV the rate at which lthe hydrocarbon was` charged hadA an influence uponr the catalyst temperature needed for demethylation to constant conversion at a given operating pressure. Thus, Iwhen treating a trimethylpentane mixture with hydrogen in the Vpresence of the aforementioned nickel catalyst at 100 and at 500 pounds pressure, the relationship found to exist between catalyst temperature and hourly liquid space velocity of charge is expressed by the i two lines shown in Figure/4 and by the data given in Table 3. From these results it is noted that at 100 poundspressure and for an average vconversion of about (line I of Figure 4), a catalyst temperature of 500 F. was requiredwhen using 1.0 hourly liquid space velocity of trimethylpentane mixture, and a temperature of 545 F. when employing 4.0 hourly liquid space velocity. When the proc ss was conducted at 500 pounds pressure to 'Ve about 20% conversion per pass, (line 2 of Fig re 4), the catalyst temperature needed was 565 F. when employing 2.0 space velocity, andv579 space velocity., these runs, about 4 molar proportions of Vhy rogen were charged per molar 45 proportion of trimethylpentane mixture.

Variations in the proportions of 'hydrogen and hydrocarbon charged to the process had some influence upon the catalyst temperature needed for.l

' a Vgiven conversion. lWl'ienthis `ratio was lowered from 3.1 to 1.7,' the catalysttemperature necessary toveiectabout 50%,*conversion remained about the ,Y same, but when this ratio was increased from 3.1.to 6.9, it was necessary to increase the catalyst'temperature by about 10 F. in. order to maintainthe Y version per pass.

Also, in the demethyianon of a Ytrirvnethylpe'ntane fraction in the presence of a cobalt-diatomaceous earth catalyst, a relationship existed between the catalyst temperature and the operating of 600 pounds rper square inch. /In these yruns,

the trimethylpentane mixture was charged at an hourly liquid space velocity of 2, and 4.8 molar proportions kof hydrogen were used per molar proportion of4 trimethylpentane. InV another run,

y 30% conversion of trimethylpentane was obtainedA f in the presence of a cobalt catalyst'at/a catalyst .Y when operating With.6.9 hourly liquid same percentage cony3 temperature of 586 F. and ata gage pressure of Y 910 pounds per square inch.. V'I'hese results are shown in Figure and inTable 9 of Example IX.

. With each new demethylation catalyst 'and Y charginastock it is preferable to make a test run in order to determine a catalyst temperature suitable for obtaining demethylation at a chosen pressure and hydrogen partial v pressure or molar ratio of hydrogen to charging stock. Such an experimentally determined temperature value will then serve asa reference point by which the iiguresY and data given in this speciiication may be used to estimate the proper catalyst temperature to use at other conversions, pressures, hydrocarbon charging rates (referred to herein by thevterm space velocity), hydrogen'l partial pressures, etc.`

In making such al test run on a catalystgthe.

mixture of hydrogen and hydrocarbon charging stock, forexample, at a pressure of about 1.00. pounds per, square inch (gage pressure) is passed measurements are also convenient, for example, for' determining the percentage of triptane in a mixture lof 2,2,3-trimethylpentane and vtriptane such as is produced by demethylation of said trimethylpentane.

The following discussion is given in order to illustrate a method by which the figures and data given'in this specification may be u'sed'to estimate the catalyst temperature and other conditions of operation necessary to obtain a desired yield of demethylation products based upon vthe information gained from a test run. Supposea test run made in the presenceof a new nickel catalyst of unknown activity at a temperatureV of 510 F., a pressure of 100 pounds per square inch, a charging rate of trimethylpentaneV mixture expressed as an hourly liquid space velocity of 1.0, and a hydrogen to trimethylp'entane ratio of 4 yyielded 13% of liquid demethylation products per pass. Using the results of this test run, line 5 is thendrawn vin Figure 3 through the point representing 13% conversion at 510 F. and .parallel to the other four lines of Figure 3 since these lines are substantially parallel. From line 5 it is noted that a temperature of 524 F. would be needed to obtain 2li-32% conversion of trime'thylpentane in the presence of this catalyst at apressure of 100 pounds per square inch. However, it

is desirable to use this catalyst at an hourly liquid i space velocity of'2.0 in order to have greater plant capacity, but it is necessary to maintain about 30% conversion of the trimethylpentane mixture into demethylation products. From line I of Figure 4 it is seen that a 'temperature increase of 23 F, (500 to 523 F.) ywas needed to maintain about 30% conversion in the presence of a similar catalyst when the charging rate of the trimethylpentane mixture was increased from 1.0 to 2.0 hourly liquid space velocity. Accordingly, with the new catalyst it is estimated that since a catalyst temperature of 524 F. would be required for about 39% conversion at 1.0 hourly liquid space velocity, `it would be necessary to use a catalyst temperature of about 547 F. (that is, 524 plus 23 F.) to maintain the same conversion at 2.0 hourly liquid space velocity and at a pressure of 100 pounds per square inch. f

vAlso, if it'is further desired to operate the process at a pressure of 500 pounds-per square inch instead of at 100 pounds per square inch at 2.0 hourly liquid space velocity, the information givenin Figure 1 may be used to estimate the catalyst temperatureneeded to obtain the desiredconversion'of about 30% per pass. From line 2 of Figure 1 it is noted that in the presence of` a similar catalyst it was necessary to increase the catalyst temperature by about 72 F., (that is from 496 :to 568 F.), when the pressure was increased from 100 to 500 pounds per square inch and when operating, at 2.0 hourly liquid space velocity.v `Accordingly, in the run proposed at a pressure of 500 pounds per square inch, it is es` timated that a catalyst temperature of 619 F. (that is, v547 plus 72 F.) would be needed to obtain about 30% conversion of the trimethylpentane mixture into normally liquid demethylation products. However, in making the proposed run at 500 pounds pressure and'2.0 space'velocity to obtain 30% demethylation per pass, it wouldV be advisable to start the `run at a'ltemperature lower than the' estimated 619 F., for example at perhaps 590 F., because demethylation catalyst (particularly fresh catalyst) often exhibits a substantial heat of adsorption at the beginning of a run. Such heat given out because of adsorption might be suiiicient to increase the catalyst tem- Y perature` enough to cause excessive demethylation of the charged hydrocarbon and to spoil the catalyst. After the runhas been started, the demethylation temperature is then increased so as to approach gradually the temperature needed to give the desired percentage conversion such as about'30%. As the catalyst temperature is thus increased, the reaction products are analyzed to determine the amount of demethylation effected. Our process is not limited to any particular type of apparatus or composition of the preferred catalysts, but depends for itsr successful operation upon the use of particular vtemperatures along with proper pressures and times of Contact suitable to the rvdiierent charging stocks and to the demethylation catalysts utilized.

YThe following examples are given to illustrate the process of this invention, although with no intention of limiting unduly its generally broad scope. j

EXAMPLE I A nickel-diatomaceous earth catalyst prepared as hereinabove set forth was heated in a stream of hydrogen at 1000" F. for 12 hours andthen cooled to room temperature after which a mixture of nitrogen and air was passed through the reduced catalyst to render it substantially nonpyrophoric. The resultant catalyst was then used asa granular ller in 'a steel reactor through which hydrogen and a trimethylpentane mixture, the'latter consisting of approximately 35% of 2,2,3-trimethylpentane, 10% of 2,3,3-trimethylpentane, and 55% ofr V2,3,4trimethylpentane, were passed at pressures of from to800 pounds per square inch. Results obtained in theseruns (runs 1-5, inclusive) are shown in Table 1. Runs 6-9 were made similarly on someof the same methylating octanes for 343 hours.

. TABLE 1 Eect of pressure upon catalyst ytemperature needed for demethylation of a tn'methylpentane mixture l Convter'- Total Hydrogen Hour y sion o y R n Gage Partial Molar Liq. Lower el??? Nu Pressure, Pressure, Ratio Space. Hydro- Temp o Lbs. per Lbs. per H 1:C|H1| Vel. carbons, F

Sq. In.l Sq. In. Per Cent Per Pass conversion was 35% per pass had the following composition expressed as liquid volume per cent of the total liquid products boiling lower than the unconverted charging stock, the latter being suitable for recycling to the process.

Demetliylation Products Llquid vol ume,PerCent Pentane (mainly neopentane) 6.1

2,3Dimetl1ylhutane 18. 1 Triptane blend containing about Y90% ol triptane (2,2,3-trin1ethy lbutane) 53. 9

2,3-Dimethylpenta11e 22. 9

Total 100.0

The above indicatedcomposition of a demethylation product is typical of others obtained from the described trimethylpentane mixture in other runs at different operating conditions.

A similar nickel catalyst which had been reduced at 800 F. gave 21-22% conversion to lowerv hydrocarbons per pass when employed similarly 'at total pressures of 200 and 600 pounds per square inch while using an hourly liquid space velocity of 0.7 and hydrogen 1 octane ratios of 1.8 and 2.6, respectively. In order to obtain the mentioned conversion, a catalyst temperature of 463 F.- was required in the run at 200 pounds' gage pressure while a temperatureof 518 F. was used in the run at 600 pounds pressure. The results of these two runs and of those referred to in Table 1 are presented graphically in Figure 1 aforementioned. Figure 2 shows the relationship of catalyst temperature to hydrogen partial pres-l sure at the inlet of the catalyst reactor.

EXAMPLE 11 The catalyst prepared as described in Example I and reduced at 1000i F. was employed in a number of other runs at different temperatures to determine the influence of catalyst temperature on the conversion to lower hydrocarbons. Results obtained in such runs at 300, 500, and 800 pounds pressure are shown in Table 2. These results are also indicated graphically in Figure 3.

TABLE 2 Eject of catalyst temperature upon conversion 'of trimethylpentane mixture into 4lower boiling hydrocarbons Conversion t Run Tfalgge Molar Effi-1y Lower Hy-o Catalyst No Llsl' Ratio smgc'e drocarbons, Temp., Y SqfIn HazClHn veL Per $315151 Per F.

12..--. 300 4.1 1.9 5 519 13-.-.. aco 4.1 1.9 9 525 14..--. 300 4, 5 1.9 11 529 15..--. 300 3.9 2.0 17 535 16..-.. 30o 4.1 2.o 2a 54o 6 300 4. 2 2. 0 32 546 l7. 300 KK 4.2 2.0 44 551 21..-.. 500 4.1 4.0 21 574 22.-.-. 500 4.0 4.0 25 577 23...-. 500 4.4 3.9 27 579 v 24-.-.. 50o 4.1 3.9 a2 592 9 800 4. 2 1.9 28 591 soo 4.o 2.o a7 59s EXAMPLE III The procedure employed and some of the same catalyst used in Examples I and 1I were utilized in determining the influence of trimethylpentane charging rate upon the catalyst temperature needed to effect about 20 and about 30% conver- Effect of space velocity and contact time uipon catalyst temperature Total Conversion Gage Con- Molar Hourly to Lower Cata- Run P tact L1q. Hydrocarlyst No. Ltssr Time, Hgu Space bons, Per Temp..

Sq '1n Secs. i' 5 l' Vel. Cent Per F.

Pass

2s soo 45 3.8 2.o 21.5 565 21--.. 500 2l 4. 1 4. 0 20. 6 574 29- 500 16 4.0 4.9 25.5 580 30--.. 500 13 3.8 6. 9 18.9 579 At a constant pressure and while employing a substantially constant hydrogen octane molar ratio of about 4, an increase in the hourly liquid space velocity of the hydrocarbon charged made it necessary to employ a. higher catalyst temperature in order to maintain constant conversion. In other words, a higher catalyst temperature was needed when the time of contact of the hydrocarbon and catalyst was decreased. The times of contact listed in Table 3 were calculated on the basis of the total volume of catalyst present in the reaction zone and not upon the basis of the free space in the catalyst layer.

EXAMPLE IV Several demethylation runs were made on similar nickeldatomaceous earth catalysts prepared as herein described and reduced at different temperatures of from 700 to 1200 F. These cataa pressure of 100 pounds per square inch and at charging rates corresponding to hourly liquid space velocities of 0.5-0.8 with hydrogen octane molar ratios or 1.7 to 2.7 as indicated by the re- 16 ber 41 at a gage pressure of 38 pounds per square inch. the catalyst temperature was increased until at 540 F. the catalyst underwent an excessive rise in temperature. In runs numbers 39 sults in Table 4. It was necessary to employ catand 40 at a pressure of 25 pounds per square inch, alyst temperatures of from 425 to 549 F. in order the catalyst temperature wasincreased from 535 to obtain 32-39% conversion in the presence ofv F. to 573 F. with only a small increase in the these catalysts which have been reduced at these percentage conversion per pass. temperatures of from about 700 to about 1200 F.

- EXAMPLE VI TABLE 4 Neohexane was subjected to catalytic demethylaticn in the presence of the catalyst described Eect of catalyst reduCiOn temperature upon in Example II using the same procedure. In CflaZZ/S tempefaiue required for demethylathese runs, from about 18 to about 40% of the tion l5 neohexane was converted into neopentane, While the total conversion of neohexane into lower boil- Total Conversion ing hydrocarbons (including neopentane and iso- Run Rftr'h Gage spieler Hlfflify butane) was 28 to 51% per pass. As shown by No Tgmp" Iisgeer' mm Space bons. Per Tgmp.. the results given in Table 6, catalyst temperatures F- sq. 1n. y Vel' Celsg" F' 20 between 433 and. 611 F. were employed at pressures of from substantially atmospheric to'500 100 1,-, 8 32 425 pounds per square inch using hourly liquid space 1% g velocities of neohexane of from 0.5 to 1.6 and ,00 3 jes tg 549 varying the hydrogen neohexane molar ratio between 2.a and 11.2.

TABLE 6 EXAMPLE V Demethylation 0f neohexane (90% pare) Several runs were made on the demethylation of the aforementioned trimethylpentane mixture Total cenver- Tong, in the Vpresence of the catalyst referred to in Run JGage Meier Hlflrly Conver- Example II and at pressures of from substantially No Ilfsssger' Hl space tane, Mgner Temp., atmospheric to 100 pounds per square inch. Some SqIn. I V01' Mgner Cent F of these results are given in Table 5.

Atm. 3.1 .s s2 39 433 Y TABLE 5 M130' l I l Demethylation of trimethylpentan mixture at 33 11g pressures of from substantially atmospheric to 500 11-2 1-5 22 37 611 100 pounds per square inch C n t EXAMPLE V'II OllVElSlOrl 0 Run 'lgrtcassge iietle Hfigiy ..ewerbnyqlgtalyst The catalyst and procedure of Example I were No. Lsislrliler Hulg I sglee Pgrfc'ngflke'r i?" 45 4utilizileld n dengethylating several alkyl cyclgh ass ane y rocar ons a a gage pressure o pounds per square inch using a hydrogen hydroa. carbon molar ratio of 5 and charging the alkyl a 25 31 3 116 44 :535 cyclohexane hydrocarbon at an hourly liquid 85 50 space velocity of from 1.5 to 1.9. The catalyst 3:6 5 48 515 temperatures utilized and the composition of 100 3-1 17 48 519 the products obtained in these runs are shown in Table 7.

TABLE '7 Demethyiatz'on of some alkyl cyclohea'ane hydrocarbons l R n Hourly Catalyst v u Charging Stock iq. Temp., Composition of Product, Per Cent by Volume N0. o

SpaceVel. F.

54A ethylcyclohexane l. 5 550 30% methylcyclohexane, 70% ethylcyclohexane. 55. l-methylf4-isopropylcyclohexane 1.6 504 7% 1,4-dmethylcyclohexane, 16% 1-methyl-fl-ethylcyclohexane, 77% 1- methyl4iscpropylcyclohexane. 56 sec-butyleyelohexane l. 7 491 5% ethylcyclohexane, 38% propylcyclohexane, 57% Sec-butylcyclobexane. 57 tert-butylcyclohexane 1. 6 552 8% methylcyclohexane, 14% ethylcyclohexane, 10% isopropylcyclohexane 68% tert-butylcyclohexane. V 58 1-methy14tertbutylcyclohexane.` 1.9 536 1% methylcyclohexaue, 5% 1mcthy14ethylcyclohexane, 11% lmethyl-4 propylcyclohexane, 83% 1methyl-4-tert-butylcyclohexane.

The results obtained show that at pressures below about pounds per square inch, the catalyst Vtemperature can be varied Within relatively wide limits without affecting appreciably the amount of conversion. For example, in run num- From the above results it appears that secondary butyl cyclohexane undergoes demethylation at a lowerY temperature than that needed to effect similar conversion of the other alkyl 75 cyclohexane hydrocarbons listed in Table 7,

Tenu: 8 v f of iwpfowlbenzene vat atmos- Demethilutticmk rhecpreswte f Yields perpalmper cent isoproiy enzene Ethylbensene Molar Run No. Ratio yHxiClEi.' I

Toluene sarees QCQ geni-I esse onli@ earth catalyst wasreduced by heating Ain hydrogen at '100 F. for 16 hours and then by continuing the heating in hydrogen at' 850 F. forv usingy a trimethylpentane charging rate corresponding to an hourly liquid space velocity of `2.0, and carrying out the reaction in thevpresence o! some oi.' the same nlckel-diatomaceousearth catalyst which had been pretreated with hy,- drogen at 1000 F. These runs were made to determine the eiect of diluting the processing gas with methane. Some of the results so obtained are given in the three runs listed in Tablel.

In the first of these runs the hydrogen: trimethyli v pentane molar ratio was 2: 1 using pure hydrogen;

24hours. The catalyst was then cooled to about 70 F. and used as a filler in a reactorthrough which 4.8 molecular proportions of hydrogen and 1 molecular proportion of, trimethylpentane were passed at the conditions shown in Table 9. In each of these runs the trimethylpentane mixture was charged at an hourly liquid space velocity Tenga 9 YDeme#inflexion Y*of ,trimet'hulpentanc `1nizcture in the presence ofcobdlt-tlatomaceousearth cat-y al1/st Run Nn es o4V et Catalyst Temp., F .L 514 559 586 Total Gage Pressure, Lbs. per Sq.In 300 600 910 Partial Hy Pressure, Lbs.y 248 496 754 Conversion to Lower Hydrocar ns, Per VCent Per Pam 2l 22 30 Figure 5 which is based upon the experimental results given in Table 9 shows that the logarithm of the gage pressure was proportional to the catalyst temperature needed to eilect ill-% conversion of the trimethylpentane mixture per passinto lower boiling paraillnic Vhydrocarbons comprising a' substantial .proportion oi' triptane. 65

Similarly, the demethylation Y temperature was directly proportional tothe logarithm of the partial pressure of hydrogen in the mixtureof trimethylpentanes and hydrogen enterlng'the reactor which contained the cobalt catalyst.

Exemrmx methylpentane mixture mentionedin Example I 75 Hexane and higher..'...---...-.-..-..'.....'..a; 0.1

" hydrogen trimethylpentane ratio resulted in the in the second run, the saine hydrogen.: trimethy'lpentane ratio was used but the hydrogen was diluted-with methane; and in the third run, pure hydrogen was used in a larger amounty so that.

the ratio of processing: gas trimethylpentane was the same as was this ratio in the second run. ,Y n vTntllov Efect on methane dilution of processing gas upon temperature needed for demethylation of a trimethvlpentane mixture in nickel catalyst u kRun. Nous- -T-V L 67 6s Average Catalyst Temp. F-- 553 525 57.6 .mm Tem fomiyn' Reactor, F 54s 511 vm1 PartialHy enPressure,Lbs.perSq. "87 56 2 so Composition of Process Gas.' rMole Per oen H drogen 100 34 1M Mgthane. 66 Gas: trimethylpentene Molar Ratioml-. 2.0 5. 7 l 5.8 Liquid Recovery. Per Cent by Volume... 93 99 92 Refractive index, no l. 3966 l. 3982 l. 3068 Conversion, Eer cent by weight oi heptane 35 Y and lower ydrocarbons.v 34 26 33 Exit as analysis, mole per cent: f Y

ydrogen.. 83 29 90 Methane y 17 71 1o The introduction of methane asa diluent in Y the processing gas while maintaining the same lowering of the required catalyst temperature for between 26and 344% conversion by about 28 F. This decrease was in spite of the fact that the time of contact of the hydrocarbon and hydrogen,V

was shorter when methane was present in the oi' the hydrogen, the'required catalyst temperature was lowered by about 51 F. These results indicate that'the hydrogen Partial pressure in- I iiuences'greatly the demeth'ylation reaction and particularly the' catalyst temperature at whichV Mole per cent Propane r 2.1 Isobutane 22.3 n-Butane 1.9

` Isopentane 73.3 n-Pentane 0.3

EXAMPLEXI .e mckei-ditomeceoue earth catalyst which had been reduced with hydrogen at 1000 F. was

used as a 1111er in a. steel reactor through which Y lsopentane was passedat `5865*4, and at a gage pressure of 300 pounds per square inch using a the isopentane was converted into lower boiling hydrocarbons in one pass.' The reaction product` .Y recovered withfmolecular weight higher than that Y'.

of methane had the following composition:V

Athe presence rof a The ratio of isobutane to normal butane in the product was 11.7:1 while the calculated statistlcal ratio is 1:2, indicating a selectivity ratio of 23.4:1 for the removal of the methyl group attached to the secondary carbon atom. 'I'his run thus shows that selective demethylation is applicable to hydrocarbons having a quaternary carbon atom but containing primary, secondary, and tertiary carbon atoms. Thus the demethylation reaction .is well suited-to converting pentanes and higher paraiilns into lower boiling parailinic hydrocarbons.

EXAMPLE xn Eleven runsv were made on the demethylation of n-hexadecane (cetane) using the nickel on kieselguhr catalyst pretreated with hydrogen at 1000 F. as described in Example I. The runs were made at temperatures ranging from 490 toi600 F. using a constant hourly liquid space velocity of 1.5, pressures from atmospheric to 200 pounds, and hydrogen hydrocarbon ratios from 4:1 to approximately 8:1. The products from all the runs were blended and subjected to vacuum distillation. lIhe conversion to lower boiling hydrocarbons was found to be 44.4%. The following is the composition of the demethylation products other than methane. Y

`The character ofthe present invention andv -with more Ythan 4 carbon atoms per molecule, an alkyl aromatic having an alkylV group containing at least 2 carbon atoms, and a saturated alkyl hydroaromatlc having an alkyl group containing at least 2 carbon atoms in the presence of a hydrogenating catalyst ata temperature in the approximate range ofV S50-750 F., a total pressure in the range of from atmospheric to about 3000'pounds. per square inch, a molar ratio oi hydrogen to hydrocarbon oi from about 1.7 to about 11.2, and a liquid hourly space velocity of from about 0.5 to about 8.0said temperature and' total pressure and the hydrogen partial pressure being chosen on thebasis of a directly proportional relationship between the4 temperature andthe logarithm of the pressures over said ranges so that a higher temperature within said `temperature range is employed with a higher total pressure and a higher partial pressure to effectv the splitting from said hydrocarbon, in the form of methane, Aof `only a methyl group or groups. Y

2. A hydrocarbon conversion processV which comprises reactinghydrogen with a hydrocarbon selected 'from the group consisting or a paraffin with more than 4 carbon atoms per molecule, an alkyl aromatic having an alkyl group containing at least 2 carbon atoms, and a, saturated alkyl hydroaromatic having an alkyl group containing at least 2 carbon atoms in the presence of a hydrogenating catalyst at a temperature in the approximate range of 350-750" F., a total pressure in the range of from about 75 to about 3000 pounds ,per square inch; a molar ratio of hydrogen to hydrocarbon of from about 1.7 to about 11.2, and a liquid hourly space velocity of from about 0.5 to about 8.0, said temperature and total pressure and the hydrogen partial pressure being chosen on the basis of a directly proportional relationship between the temperature and the logarithm of the pressures over said ranges so that ahigher temperature within said temperature range is employed with a higher total pressure and a higher partial pressure to effect the splitting from said hydrocarbon, in the form of methane, of only a methyl group or groups.

3. The process as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said catalyst comprises nickel.

.4. The process characterized in cobalt.

5. The process characterized in nickel.V

6. The process characterized in cobalt.

7. The process as defined in claim 1 further that said catalyst comprises as defined in claim 2 further that said catalyst comprises as dened in claim 2 further that said catalystcompxises as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said temperature is in the characterized in that said hydrocarbon is a paraf- Y iin containing more than four carbon atoms to the molecule.

10. VThe process as deiined in claim 1 further characterized in that said hydrocarbon is a paraffin containing more than sevencarbon atoms to the molecule.

11. The process as dened in claim 1 further characterized in that said hydrocarbon is a trimethylpentane.

12. The process as deilned in claim 1 further characterized in that said hydrocarbon is 2,2,3- trimethylpentane. 'l

13. VThe process as denedin claim 1 further characterized in that said hydrocarbon is an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon having an alkyl group containing at least `two carbon atoms. 14. The process as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said hydrocarbon is a saturated alkyl hydroaromatic hydrocarbon containing at least two carbon atoms.

The following references are of record in the nie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 2,303,118 Frey Nov. 24, 1942 2,394,743 Bergsteinsson 1---- Feb. 12, 1946 (Other references on following page) Number OTHER REFERENCES Waterman et al., (A) Jour. Inst. of Pet., vol. 25. 32-40 (1939). Div. 31.

Schoorel et al., Jour. Inst. of Pet., vol. 18. 179-182 (1932). Div. 31.

Waterman et a1.,-(B) Trans. of Faraday Soc.. vol. XXXV, 985-992 (1939). Div. 59.

Kasansky et al., Berichte, 69. 1862-1869 (1936). Sabatier et `al., Annales Chim. (8), vol. 4,

Otuka. et al., Jour. Soc. Chem. Ind., Japan, vol. 43, 454 B-456 B (1940). Photostat in 196-53. v 

